Genome-wide linkage analysis of families with obsessive-compulsive disorder ascertained through pediatric probands

The goal of this study was to identify chromosomal regions likely to contain susceptibility alleles for early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A genome scan was done in 56 individuals from seven families ascertained through pediatric OCD probands; 27 of the 56 subjects had a lifetime diagnosis of definite OCD. Denser mapping of regions on chromosomes 2, 9, and 16 was subsequently done with those subjects and ten additional subjects from the largest family in the study. Direct interviews were completed with 65 of the 66 genotyped individuals. Relatives were interviewed blind to proband status. Of the 65 interviewed individuals, 32 had a lifetime diagnosis of definite OCD. Three of the seven probands had a history of Tourette disorder. Two of the 25 relatives with OCD had a tic history, whereas none of the 33 relatives without OCD had tics. The genome scan consisted of 349 microsatellite markers with an average between-marker distance of 11.3 centiMorgan (cM). Fine mapping was done with 24 additional markers at an average spacing of 1.6 cM. Parametric and nonparametric linkage analyses were conducted using GENEHUNTER(+). The maximum multipoint LOD score with a dominant model was 2.25 on 9p. However, with fine mapping and additional subjects, that LOD score decreased to 1.97. The maximum multipoint nonparametric LOD* score was 1.73 on 19q. The maximum multipoint LOD score with a recessive model was 1.40 on 6p. The results provide suggestive evidence for linkage on 9p and identify regions requiring further study with much larger samples.